Martinez frustrated by Figueroa red

Roberto Martinez will consider launching an appeal against the red card which cost Wigan any chance of a positive result at Newcastle.

The Latics found themselves facing an uphill task within 12 minutes after defender Maynor Figueroa was dismissed. Honduras international Figueroa was shown a straight red card for a challenge on striker Papiss Cisse which also resulted in a penalty from which Demba Ba fired the home side into a lead they never surrendered.

But Martinez said: "We will look into it. The red card obviously has to be because he is stopping a clear goalscoring opportunity. It's difficult to see how a striker is going to score a goal if the ball is divided between two players."

He added: "Both players are allowed to challenge for the ball. As a defender, you are always going to be strong; as a striker, you are going to invite the contact. It is shoulder to shoulder for me. What is important is that the contact was shoulder to shoulder, and that's allowed.

"In the laws of the game, you are allowed to challenge for the position. We will have to look into it if we can appeal for the red card."

Wigan might have been reduced to nine men before half-time had referee Mike Jones not taken a lenient view of Gary Caldwell's challenge on Ba having already been booked for a challenge on the same man.

Martinez said: "I thought it was a yellow card, if am honest with you, the second one. I don't think the first one was a yellow."